Retractable eccentric press



May 9, 1967 D. T. DANIELE RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC FRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 25, 1964 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 D.T. DAMELE RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS 6 Sheets--$heet 2 Filed Sept. 25,1964 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE ATTORNEY y 9, 1967 D. T. DANIELE3,318,762

RETRACTABLE ECCEN'IRIC PRESS Filed Sept. 25, 1964 6 Sheets-SheetINVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE BY LLQLCQEQCH ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 D. T.DANIELE 3,318,762

RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS Filed Sept. 25, 1964 6 Sheets-She et 4INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE ATTORNEY y 1967 D. T. DANHELE 3,31$,762

RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS Filed Sept. 25, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE BY I KQRL CU-HOCNS ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 0. T.DANIELE RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 25, 1964INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE dj ocks A'ITORNE Y United States Fatent O3,318,762 RETRAQTABLE ECQENTRIC PRESS Donald T. Daniele, EastLongrneadow, Mass, assignor to Diamond International (Iorporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 399,302 7 Claims.(Cl. 162-394) The present invention relates to a retractable eccentricpress and, more particularly, to a retractable eccentric pressing diefor pressing pulp molded articles, which die may be continuouslyreciprocated while simultaneously retracted so that it does not comeinto contact with its mating dies.

On any fixed stroke pressing device, it is often desirable to continueto operate the device, i.e. continue reciprocation of the press, withoutproviding any actual pressing. Particularly in the pressing of moldedpulp articles it is desirable to initially start the pressing die andthen continue operation of the pressing die even during certainoperations when no pulp molded articles are produced.

When a pulp molding machine is started in operation, no formed articlesare presented to the pressing die until after the machine has tun for aperiod of time since it takes time for the articles to form and then becarried into position under the reciprocating pressing die. With a fixedstroke pressing device the press dies will contact the empty formingdies if there are no products on the forming dies and this particularlyhappens during start up and shut down. This contact causes damage to theforming dies, crushing of the die wire and scufling of the pressingdies.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome thedeficiencies of the prior art, such as indicated above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pressing diewhich may be reciprocated continuously and which may be simultaneouslyretracted so as to move the pressing die out of contact with its matingdie.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device andmethod to retract an eccentric operated press head at start up.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device andmethod by which a press head may be ex tended automatically and byremote control after the device is in operation and when the product isready to be pressed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety devicefor retracting a pressing head to prevent damage to the machine shouldtrouble occur while the machine is running.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automaticdevice for retracting a press die normally contacting a pulp moldedarticle on a forming die so that no damage to empty molding dies andwire can occur if no article is present on the forming die.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a press diewhich can be retracted at any time while the machine is in operation.

These and other objects and the nature and advantages of the instantinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View partly in section of the left-handside of a device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of the righthand side of a device inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional side view of certain details of thedevice of FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

Patented May 9, 1967 FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3 showing thedevice in operation and in pressing position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the device in retractedposition; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the operation of the devicewhile in retracted position.

The pressing machine of the present invention is shown in general inFIGS. 1 and 1A. A drum 10 carrying a plurality of pulp forming dies 12in series is provided as is well known in the pulp molding art. The drumis rotated to pass the mold 12 into a slurry of pulp where articles aredeposited in a layer by applying vacuum through the forming die 12.After passing out of the slurry, the forming dies 12 pass to a pressingstation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A where a pressing die 14 comes intocontact with and presses the pulp deposit on and against the forming die12. The drum 10 conventionally operates in an intermittent manner.

The pressing die 14 reciprocates periodically to mate with the articledeposited within the female forming die. As the forming dies 12 advanceby the intermittent movement of the drum 10, the pressing dies 14reciprocate in the same period of movement so that the dies 12 and 14are always in proper registry.

The pressing dies 14 are mounted in a conventional manner, such as viasprings, to a platen 16. The platen 16 comprises essentially fourvertical walls 161, 162, 163 and 164. The outer surfaces of the walls161 and 164 are connected to sliding members 18. The platen 16 alsocomprises a horizontal wall connecting the vertical walls.

Adjacent the outer surface of each of the walls 161 and 164 and aroundeach slide 18 is provided a U-shaped guiding means 20 having an innerbearing surface to match with the bearing surfaces of the slides 18. Theguiding means 20 permit the platen 16 to slide vertically up and down asthe press reciprocates to maintain the movement of the platen 16 and thepressing die 14 in a straight line. The guiding means 20 is connectedvia suitable connecting structure 22 to support pillars 24 which supportthe entire press in proper relation to the drum 10.

At the upper end of the pillars 24 are provided a pair of bearings 26.Supported within the bearings for rotation is a rotating shaft 28. Asuitable motor or prime mover means 30 is provided to maintain the shaft28 constantly rotating.

Along the length of the shaft 28 are provided two eccentrics 32 whichare attached to the shaft 28 via keys 34 to rotate with the shaft 28.The eccentrics 32 and the pressing dies 14 are attached to each othervia suitable connecting and supporting means which are described ingreater detail below. Since the two pressing dies 14 and the twoeccentrics 32, as well as their intermediate connecting structure, areidentical in both cases, the remaining description will be directed toonly one eccentric and its attendant structure, it being understood thatthey preferably operate in pairs, but that suitable structure, withinthe scope of the present invention, may be provided so that only oneeccentric is necessary.

FIGS. 26 show the eccentric 32 and the-platen 16 as well as theirconnecting inter-structure in greater detail. FIGS. 3-6 show the platen16 in various positions of its vertical travel during both reciprocationand retraction and also show schematically the guide means 20 formaintaining the movement of the platen 16 and the pressing die 14 in astraight line.

An eccentric strap 36 is rotatably supported in a groove 37 on theeccentric 32 so that the eccentricmay continuously rotate withoutcausing the eccentric strap 36 to rotate.

As is seen in FIG. 4 the shaft 28 and the eccentric 32 rotate about theaxis of the shaft 28 and thereby cause the eccentric 32 to translate itsrotary motion into a reciprocatory motion of the eccentric strap 36.Through suitable connections the reciprocation of the eccentric strap 36causes the platen 16 to reciprocate within the guide means 20 so thatthe pressing die 14 periodically mates with a forming die 12. Theeccentric strap 36 comprises an upward projection 38 and a downwardsupporting section 40. Rigidly mounted with the downward portion 40 ofthe eccentric strap 36 is a slide guide 42 for maintaining suitablelinkage, described below, in proper alignment during retraction.

Directly below the eccentric 32 on the eccentric strap 36 is provided afirst pair of links 44 connected to the eccentric strap 36 by a pin 46(note particularly FIG. 2). The lower extremity of the first pair oflinks 44 is in turn connected to a second pair of links 48 via a secondpin 50. At the lower extremity of the second pair of links 48 isprovided a third pin 52 which attaches the links 48 to a slide member54. The slide 54 is in turn connected through suitable means, such as apivot pin 56, to the platen 16. The slide 54 is adapted to slide withinthe slide guide 42 during retraction of the platen 16.

On either side of the eccentric strap 36 is provided a shifter plate 58which, like the eccentric strap 36, is rotatably supported in a groove59 on the eccentric 32. The shifter plates 58 each have an upperprojection 60 extending from the eccentric 32 in the same generaldirection as the projection 38 of the eccentric strap 36, and a lowerportion 62 having a groove 63 at the lower extremity thereof. Recessedwithin the groove 63 is a shifter shoe 64 which straddles and issupported by the pin 50, thereby engaging the junction of the first andsecond links 44 and 48.

Connecting the upper projection 38 of the eccentric strap 36 and theupper projections 60 of the shifter plates 58 is a suitable means tomove the eccentric strap projection 38 in relation to the shifter plateprojection 60. Any suitable means for exerting force between the twoprojections will satisfy the need. A solenoid, a rack and pinion, ascrew, or a fluid pressure (hydraulic or pneumatic) cylinder may beused, but preferably a pneumatic cylinder 66 is provided which isattached to the eccentric strap projection 38 by means of a shaft rod68. In turn, the piston 70 of the cylinder 66 is connected to theprojections 60 of the shifter plates 58 by means of a second shaft rod72. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the shaft rods 68 and 72 may pass betweenthe two pairs of eccentrics. Flexible air lines extend from a remotecontrolled four-way valve to the pneumatic cylinder 66.

With the links 44 and 48 straight (i.e. in vertical alignment), as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the platen 16 is in pressing position and as the shaft28 and the eccentrics 32 rotate, the platen 16 will reciprocate as shownin FIG. 4 to effect pressing via the pressing dies 14. When the aircylinder 66 is activated to extend the piston 70 as shown in FIG. 5 (theunextended position being shown in phantom), the shaft rod 72 is forcedaway from the shaft rod 68. This in turn forces the shifter plateprojections 60 to move, i.e. the shifter plates 58 rotate about theeccentric 32, thereby moving the lower end 62 of the shifter plates 58in the direction opposite from the projection 60. With the shiftingshoes 64 contacting the pin 50, the links 44 and 48 are forced out ofvertical alignment. This causes the lower link 48 to rise slightly,thereby pulling the slide 54 upwardly in the slide guide 42, therebyraising the platen 16 and the connected pressing dies 14. In otherwords, the actuation of the air cylinder 66 moves the eccentric strap 36in relation to the shifting plate 58 to move the shifting shoe 64 andthe pinned junction of the links 44, 48 in a direct-ion normal to thedirection of the guide means 18-20 to thereby shorten the effectivelength of the links to cause the pressing die 14 to separate from theforming dies as shown in FIG. 5 and this position may be maintainedduring continual reciprocation as shown in FIG. 6.

The machine continues to run during the actuating sequence of thepneumatic cylinder 66 and a complete retracting stroke happens as fastas the pneumatic cylinder 66 can operate.

To re-extend the platen 16, the piston is retracted within the pneumaticcylinder 66 and the sequence, in reverse, extends the platen 16 to itspressing position. A stop pin 74 is provided to allow the links 44 and48 to pass dead center which allows full press loads and prevents thelinks from snapping open during pressing.

While the device has been described in relation to a press for pulpmolded articles, it is understood that such a device can be used for anypressing operation and the retracting feature during continuedreciprocation provides an added safety feature in any press device. Itwill also be understood that certain other changes and modifications ofthe details and design may be made in the embodiment of the inventiondescribed above in connection with the accompanying drawings withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. By way of exampleonly, a variety of means to move the eccentric strap projection inrelation to the shifter plate projection may be provided, variouschanges .in the mechanical linkage may be provided, and/ or oneeccentric and/or one shifter plate may be provided in place of aplurality.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings, anddescribed in the specification, but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A retractable press comprising: a pair of matching dies; means toreciprocate one said matching die in a first direction, saidreciprocating means comprising a shaft, means to rotate said shaft,means carrying said reciprocating die to translate the rotary motion ofsaid shaft to the reciprocatory motion of said reciprocating die, andmeans connecting said translating means to said reciprocating die; firstand second retracting elements carried by said reciprocating means, saidfirst and second retracting elements being integrally associated withsaid connecting means; and means to move said first and secondretracting elements in relation to one another in a second direction toshorten the effective length of said connecting means to cause saidreciprocating die to separate and retract from said other matching diegenerally in said first direction during continued reciprocation.

2. In a reciprocating press for pressing pulp molded articlescomprising: a pressing station; a plurality of forming dies passing saidpressing station; a matched pressing die complementary to said formingdies; and means to reciprocate in a first direction said matchedpressing die into pressing relationship with each one of said formingdies as it passes said pressing station, the improvement wherein saidmeans to reciprocate comprises a shaft, means to rotate said shaft, aneccentric keyed to said shaft; and means connecting said eccentric tosaid reciprocating die; the improvement further comprising a firstretracting element for said eccentric and said connecting means; asecond retracting element for said eccentric and said connecting means;means to move said first and second retracting elements in relation toone another in a second direction to shorten the effective length ofsaid connecting means to cause said pressing die to separate and retractfrom said forming dies during continual reciprocation, and means to fixthe movement of said pressing die in said first direction during bothreciprocation and retraction.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connecting meanscomprises a linkage having two rigid links connected by a cross-pin andfurther having another cross-pin at the opposite extremities of eachrigid link, said cross-pins providing axes of rotation.

4. A reciprocating press for pressing pulp molded articles comprising apressing station; a plurality of forming dies passing said pressingstation; a matched pressing die complementary to said forming dies; atplaten supporting said pressing die; guide means for maintaining themovement of said platen and pressing die in a straight line; means toreciprocate said pressing die into pressing relationship with each oneof said forming dies as it passes said pressing station, saidreciprocating means comprising a rotating shaft, means to rotate saidshaft continuously, and an eccentric keyed to said shaft; an eccentricstrap rotatably supported on said eccentric; a first link pinned to saideccentric strap; a second link pinned to said first link at the oppositeextremity thereof from said strap; a slide pinned to said second link atthe opposite extremity thereof from said first pin, said platen beingconnected to the opposite extremity of said slide from said second pin;a slide guide rigidly mounted with said eccentric strap for maintainingthe movement of said slide in a straight line; a projection on saideccentric strap extending from said eccentric in a direction oppositefrom said pressing die; a shifter plate rotat-ably supported on saideccentric; a projection on said shifter plate extending from saideccentric in the same general direction as said eccentric strapprojection; a shifting shoe grasped by said shifter plate and engagingthe pinned junction of said first and second links; and means to movesaid eccentric strap projection in relation to said shifter plateprojection to move said shifting shoe and pinned junction of said firstand second links in a direction normal to the direction of said guidemeans to thereby shorten the effective length of said links to causesaid pressing die to separate from said forming dies during continualreciprocation.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 comprising a pivot pin connectingsaid platen to said slide.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein a shifter plate isprovided adjacent each surface of said eccentric strap along the axis ofsaid rotating shaft and said shifter plate projections are connected bya rod parallel to said shaft.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to connectsaid translating means to said reciprocating die comprises a pair ofpinned links, the first of which is pinned to said first retractingelement, a slide pinned to the second of said links, said die beingconnected to said slide, a slide guide being rigidly mounted with saidfirst retracting element for maintaining the movement of said slide in astraight line, and a shifting element connected to said second retracingelement and grapsing the junction between said pinned links; whereinsaid means to relatively move said first and second retracting elementscauses shortening of the effective length of said links to therebyeffect said separating and retracting of said reciprocating die fromsaid other matching die.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,060 10/1922 Lautenschlager 82-527 DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner. I. H.NEWSOME, H. CAINE, Assistant Examiners.

1. A RETRACTABLE PRESS COMPRISING: A PAIR OF MATCHING DIES; MEANS TORECIPROCTE ONE SAID MATCHIND DIE IN A FIRST DIRECTION, SAIDRECIPROCATING MEANS COMPRISING A SHAFT, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID SHAFT,MEANS CARRYING SAID RECIPROCATING DIE TO TRANSLATE THE ROTARY MOTHION OFSAID SHAFT TO THE RECIPROCATORY MOTION OF SAID RECIPROCATING DIE, ANDMEANS CONNECTING SAID TRANSLATING MEANS TO SAID RECIPROCATING DIE; FIRSTAND SECOND RETRACTING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS, SAIDFIRST AND SECOND RETRACTING ELEMENTS BEING INTRGRALLY ASSOCIATED WITHSAID CONNECTING MEANS; AND MEANS TO MOVE SAID FIRST AND SECONDRETRACTING ELEMENTS IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER IN A SECOND DIRECTION TOSHORTEN THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS TO CAUSE SAIDRECIPROCATING DIE TO SEPARATE AND RETRACT FROM SAID OTHER MATCHING DIEGENERALLY IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION DURING CONTINUED RECIPROCATION.